Special supplement to the Buffalo Bulletin

SALUTE TO
AGRICULTURE

Supporting
local agriculture since 1884

Buffalo Bulletin
58 North Lobban • Buffalo WY 82834 • 307-684-2223
www.buffalobulletin.com
C2 - Buffalo Bulletin - Thursday, March 22, 2018 www.buffalobulletin.com

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a long day in the field or on the ranch.
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If you’re tired
of being put on
the backburner,
we’d love to have
you as a priority.
www.buffalobulletin.com Buffalo Bulletin - Thursday, March 22, 2018 - C3

Continuing a
family legacy
in agriculture
By Jen Sieve-Hicks
jen@buffalobulletin.com

Tressa Lawrence is not one to shy away from adventure. At 27 years

old, she’s lived and worked in places many people could not point to on a
map: There was a stretch working at a resort in the Virgin Islands, anoth-
er stint teaching English in Panama and another job shooting photos on a
remote Alaskan glacier that could only be reached by helicopter.
While her newest adventure – ranching alongside her brother and
uncle – is closer to home, it’s no less thrilling or challenging. And her
world travels have not only made her appreciate home more, but they’ve
also prepared her for a life that’s not totally conventional.
With the sun hanging low in the eastern sky on a bitterly cold morn-
ing, Tressa climbs into the older Ford diesel feed truck – it’s got a tape
deck that she’s outfitted with an adapter that allows her to play her
iPhone through the truck’s speakers. The dash is covered with the tools
of her trade – hay cutters, needle nose pliers, dusty work gloves. Her
black and white border collie “Lola” jumps in next to her and jockeys for
a seat on Tressa’s lap.
“They say that you can have a plan, but ultimately God’s plan is
what’s happening,” Lawrence says. “I moved home from Panama. I
didn’t really know what my next step was, so I was working and every-
Bulletin photo by Jen Sieve-Hicks
thing just kind of fell into place. And I appreciate home a lot more now.”
Tressa Lawrence is the fifth generation of the Lawrence family to make a living on the family’s ranch east of Though ranching might not have been in her career plans, it is cer-
Buffalo. After traveling around the world, Lawrence returned to the family’s ranch and has found satisfaction in the
physical labor and days outdoors.
tainly her heritage. She is the fifth generation of Lawrences to make her
living on the family’s ranch on Upper Clear Creek. As she talks about her
grandparents, her appreciation for their work and her pride in being a part
of that legacy is evident.
“My grandfather is the one who transformed it into what it is today –
they raised cattle and sheep,” she says. “My grandparents have this amaz-
ing story – and I think that’s a big part of the reason I came back – this
story of hard work and perseverance through the toughest times. He left

“Some days there aren’t this legacy of honesty and hard work and caring for our livestock just as
much as if they were humans. It was a great opportunity to grow up on
the ranch and experience that with them because their love and passion

enough long johns to keep for agriculture truly showed and being able to learn from them.”
In addition to her on-the-job training, she’s got a truckload of acco-
lades from her days in 4-H and FFA – including serving as vice president

me warm.” of the Wyoming FFA and earning a scholarship to Casper College for
livestock judging.
It’s the deep of winter – a month or so before the ranch gets signifi-

­— Tressa Lawrence cantly busier with calving. The day begins with feeding 150 or so cows.
Tressa backs up the truck to the hay bales and flips the switch for the

continued on page C13

Proud supporters of
Johnson County ag producers.
THANK YOU
for everything you do!

Experience the New West

Explore the Old West

55 N. Main Street, Buffalo Wyoming

307-684-5544 • 1-800-227-5122
C4 - Buffalo Bulletin - Thursday, March 23, 2017 www.buffalobulletin.com

Party Meatballs
Mrs. Buster Long – 1977 Buffalo Bulletin,
Cowbelle Scrapbook
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
We proudly support 1 cup dry bead crumbs
1 minced onion
our ag producers
Recipes from
½ cup milk
2 eggs
2 T. parsley
1 tsp. salt
Chesbro Electric ¼ tsp. pepper

the Johnson
4th Avenue • Buffalo 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
684-8613 1-24 oz. jar chili sauce
Fax 684-5877 1-20 oz. jar grape jelly
Directions
Mix chili sauce and jelly, cook and stir over

County
Serving Buffalo’s electrical needs for 13 years medium heat 20 minutes. Combine beef with
remaining ingredients, making small meatballs.
Simmer in sauce 15-20 minutes. Serve from
chaffing dish.

CattleWomen
Note: This recipe was published in the Buffalo
Bulletin for Eat Beef Month as a Best of Beef
Recipe.

Sweet Broccoli Salad

Virgie Watt
Ingredients
20 cups broccoli florets (approximately 5 pounds)
2-16 oz. boxes of golden raisins
2-6 or 7 oz. jars of sunflower seeds

We salute the
2 pounds bacon, cooked crispy and broken into
small pieces
1 qt. mayonnaise (salad dressing)
1½ cups white sugar
4 T. white vinegar

ag industry
Directions
Mix mayonnaise, sugar and white vinegar.
Pour over the rest of the ingredients and toss.
Note: May add sliced red onion. This is four
times the original recipe and is a staple for our
bull sale lunches.

KIM A. TAYLOR, DVM & TOM J. BERRY, DVM Sloppy Joes

Phyllis Rhodes
Ingredients
10 pounds hamburger

Big Horn Veterinary Hospital

3 onions, diced
Salt and pepper
½ gallon ketchup
1 large chili sauce
P.O. Box 861 • Buffalo, WY 82834 • 307-684-5310 1-16 oz. jar barbecue sauce
5 cups water
Directions
Brown hamburger with diced onions and salt
and pepper. Mix in rest of ingredients. Add water
to desired consistency. Cook on low until heated.
Note: This is the recipe we use for Ag Day.

Taco soup
Heidi Stoltz
Ingredients
1½ pounds ground beef, browned and drained
1 onion, diced
1 green pepper, chopped
1 can corn, undrained
1 can pinto beans, undrained
1 can kidney beans, undrained
1 can tomato sauce
1 or 2 cans stewed or diced tomatoes, und-
Since 1954 we have had rained
1 envelope dry ranch mix
4 generations proudly serving you. 1 envelope taco seasoning
Directions
Johnson County Ag Producers Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover.
Cook on low 4-6 hours. Garnish individual serv-
we salute you. ings with shredded cheese, sour cream and chips.

Buckingham continued on page C5

Lumber
370 S. Bypass Rd., Buffalo • 684-2231
“If it’s lumber call this #”
www.buffalobulletin.com Buffalo Bulletin - Thursday, March 22, 2018 - C5

½ tsp. garlic powder

1-16 oz. can refried beans
1-8 oz. jar chunky picante sauce
1-14½ oz. can diced tomatoes
1-8¾ oz. can whole kernel corn, drained
¼ tsp. ground cumin
1 pkg. cornbread mix
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Avocado slices and chopped tomato, optional
Directions
In a large skillet, cook meat, onion and garlic
powder until meat is browned. Drain. Stir in
refried beans, picante sauce, undrained toma-
toes, corn and cumin. (Make ahead tip: At this
point, the mixture may be transferred to another
dish, covered and chilled. When ready to fin-
ish baking, return to skillet and proceed.) Heat
until bubbly. Transfer to a 3-quart baking dish.
Meanwhile, prepare cornbread mix according
to package directions. Stir in cheese. Carefully
spread cornbread mixture on top of hot mixture
in casserole. Bake uncovered at 375 F. for 25
to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into
cornbread comes out clean. If desired, garnish
with avocado slices, chopped tomatoes and
more picante sauce.

Blueberry Pie
Linda Matthews
Ingredients
1 baked pie crust
4 cups fresh blueberries
1 cup sugar (use less if the berries are sweet)
3 T. cornstarch
1 cup water
1/8 tsp. salt
1 T. butter
Crockpot Short Ribs ½ tsp. cinnamon
Amanda Kaufmann 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
Ingredients 2-3 tsp. lemon juice to taste
1 orange, cut into ¼-inch slices Directions
1 medium onion, cut into ¼-inch slices Combine sugar, cornstarch, water, salt and 1 cup of the
12 pounds short ribs seasoned with salt and pepper blueberries. Cook until very thick over low heat. Remove
2-12 oz. bottles of beer from heat and add butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice
¼ cup brown sugar and remaining blueberries. Cool and pour into crust.
2 tsp. dry mustard Note: For a 2-crust pie, do not bake bottom crust. Bake
2 tsp. garlic powder at 450 F. for 30 minutes.
4 cups barbecue sauce
½ cup vinegar Peanut Butter Balls
½ cup prepared mustard Phyllis Rhodes
½ cup honey Ingredients
Directions ¾ cup graham cracker crumbs (about 8 whole crackers)
Layer in crockpot: orange, onion and short ribs. Combine 2 cups powdered sugar
the rest of the ingredients to make sauce. Pour sauce over 1 stick (½ cup) melted butter
ribs. Cover and cook on low for seven to nine hours. 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
Note: May add pickled jalapenos and canned chipotle Milk chocolate chips
chilies in adobo sauce to first layers. Directions
Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips well and
Mexican Tamale Pie form into balls. Melt about ½ cup chocolate chips at a
Sally Ramsbottom time and dip the balls one at a time. Place on waxed paper
Ingredients or plastic wrap. Let sit until chocolate is firm.
1½ pound lean burger Note: I use a fork and small spatula to turn balls over
½ cup chopped onion and take out of chocolate.

32 years of Quality Customer Service

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Bulk Fertilizer • Livestock and pet feed
Leather working • Branding and docking supplies
710 N. Main • Buffalo, WY.
307-684-9015 (Fax) 307-684-0779
M-F: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. • Sat: 8 a.m. to noon

We salute Johnson County Agriculture

Thank you Complete line of “Choice”

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Open Monday though Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Saturday 9 a.m. to noon
C6 - Buffalo Bulletin - Thursday, March 22, 2018 www.buffalobulletin.com

Friend of
the furry
Kaycee’s chief veterinarian braves bad
weather, long drives and the occasional
ostrich to deliver quality care

By Stephen Dow
stephen@buffalobulletin.com

On this early February morning, it is cold enough to see the Bulletin photo by Stephen Dow

breath of the 190 Red Angus calves that Dr. Summer Hanson, vet- Summer Hanson Bangs vaccinated a Red Angus calf on an early February morning. Hanson is the chief veterinarian in
erinarian, is Bangs vaccinating. Kaycee and travels across southern Johnson County to care for cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, goats, dogs, cats and even
the occasional ostrich.
But Hanson has been through worse. Much worse.
“I’ve done this when it’s so cold that the vaccine freezes in the
needle,” Hanson said, as she took off her sweatshirt. “The only experience has made it a lot easier for me to connect with the
thing you can do in that situation is hold the needle close to your ranchers I work with in this job,” Hanson said. “They know I’ve
body heat and hope it defrosts. I’ve done this in 20 degrees below been in their shoes and have had to make the same decisions they “My favorite thing is
before and the tattoo ink that I use to tattoo the calves’ ears has fro- make each and every day.”
zen, which isn’t supposed to happen. It’s just one of the challenges When her brother married, Hanson decided to leave Rimrock
Cattle and pursue veterinary medicine. She graduated from
performing C-sections
that comes with this job sometimes.”
No matter the weather or time of day, Hanson – the chief veteri-
narian for the town of Kaycee – always comes when her patients
Washington State University with a doctor of veterinary medicine
degree in May 2012 and took a job at the Powder River Veterinary
on the cows. After all,
need her most. Like the country doctors of old, she travels for
miles to visit patients. The only difference is that Hanson’s patients
Hospital and Supply. The clinic had been founded, owned and
operated by Kaycee resident Dwayne Christensen for 37 years
you get a newborn calf
are of the four-legged variety: cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, goats,
dogs, cats and even the occasional ostrich.
before he sold the practice to Dr. Candice Carden in March 2012.
“I knew that the clinic would be a pretty good fit for me,”
at the end of it. What
“This job is always surprising me,” Hanson said. “You might
have a schedule that seems pretty light, but then you’ll get a call
Hanson said. “Dr. Christensen focused mainly on cattle and a bit
on equine and small animals, and that was right where my interests
could be better than
that you’re needed for a C-section or to help a sick calf. There’s
certainly never a dull moment, but that’s what I love about it.”
were. When my family and friends told me about the job opening, I
knew it would be a perfect fit.” that? Even when I’m
While Hanson grew up on a cattle ranch in Worland and always
had a love for animals, she said she never desired to be a veterinar-
Carden, who visits the Kaycee clinic once or twice a week,
spends most of her time at an equine hospital in Sheridan. That called out to deliver at
ian. In fact, she graduated from the University of Wyoming with a means Hanson is the lone full-time veterinarian in the Kaycee area.
bachelor of arts degree in psychology. The clinic has only one other full-time employee, veterinary assis- two in the morning, I’m
“Obviously, I’m making great use of that degree right now,” tant Hannah Roduner.
Hanson said with a laugh. “That really didn’t end up going any- “Our staff is pretty small,” Hanson said. “So the big difference still glad to do it.”
where.” between our clinic and a bigger city clinic is that Hannah and I
After graduating, Hanson chose to lease a cattle ranch south of both do a little bit of everything. I answer the phones and clean up — Dr. Summer Hanson
Worland with her brother. She said her three years at the ranch – after appointments, in addition to all the normal things a veterinar-
known as Rimrock Cattle – served as preparation for her future ian does. At larger clinics, doctors just have this quick succession
career.
“We were just a typical cow-calf operation, and I think that continued on page C7

We salute our agriculture producers

We salute our agriculture producers

Rocky Mountain 17 Plains Drive, Buffalo, WY 82834

307-684-2130

Equipment rmequipment@collinscom.net
rockymountainequipment.com

• Dirt construction
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• Septic systems & Snow Removal

We Proudly Support Ag Producers

BF Construction, LLC
Kirven & Kirven P.C. Bryce Fisher • 307-680-2280
104 Fort • Buffalo, Wy. • 684-2248 70 TW Rd. • Buffalo , WY 82834
bfconstructionllc@hotmail.com
www.buffalobulletin.com Buffalo Bulletin - Thursday, March 22, 2018 - C7

Bulletin photo by Stephen Dow

Dr. Summer Hanson, right, prepares the tattoo fluid while Bangs vac-
cinating calfs. Each calf receives a tattoo to signify that they have
been vaccinated.

of 15-minute appointments, and they let their technicians do a lot of the

prep work. I don’t have that kind of luxury here. I have to do a little bit

Big Horn Co-op

of everything.”
Hanson said she tries to designate certain days as “small animal days”
– where she stays in the clinic and performs surgeries on dogs, cats and

would like to say

other small animals – and other days as “large animal days,” where she
makes house calls to local ranches to perform
“We were just a everything from breeding soundness exams to
pregnancy tests to brucellosis vaccinations.

thank you
typical cow-calf Some days are a blend of the two, accord-
operation, and I ing to Hanson. Just hours before vaccinating the
think that Red Angus calves for brucellosis, she performed
emergency surgery on a dog to remove dead tis-
experience has sue and close an open wound.
made it a lot According to Hanson, there is a world of dif-
easier for me to
connect with
ference between working with smaller animals
and their larger counterparts. for all that you do in our community
“Bovine medicine is really different from treating
the ranchers small animals,” Hanson said. “Small animals are We would also like to remind you
I work with in part of the family, and people are usually willing to
this job.” do whatever it takes to make them well. But, with that we have programs
— Dr. Summer the cattle, it is often as much of a financial decision
as it is an emotional one. These ranchers are trying
to help anyone in agriculture.
Hanson to succeed in business, and sometimes they have to
make some hard decisions.”
While Hanson said that she loves all the ani- - We have full service crop protection
mals she treats, she is especially fond of the bovines.
“My favorite thing is performing C-sections on the cows,” Hanson - Feed
said. “After all, you get a newborn calf at the end of it. What could be
better than that? Even when I’m called out to deliver at two in the morn- - Animal Health
ing, I’m still glad to do it.”
While Hanson has had her share of memorable C-sections, her first - Fuel
might take the cake.
“We were having an open house at the clinic because Candice had just
- Lp and so much more.
opened a new equine addition,” Hanson said. “I got the call from some
of our clients, who said they were bringing in a cow for a C-section. I
didn’t necessarily want an audience for my first C-section, but about 15
Meeting local rancher’s needs
open house attendees watched me as I brought this calf into the world. I
was slightly nervous, but both the calf and the mom are doing great, so I
must have done something right.”
Hanson loves working with cows and calves, but she’s a little less
Celebrating over 90 years
fond of some of her winged patients – particularly a large ostrich. 107 US Highway 16 E • 307-684-9561
“One of our clients was trying to start an ostrich farm, so I did treat
ostriches a few times,” Hanson said. “At one point, the ostriches were
going down because of a selenium deficiency, and I was asked to check “Your company. Your community. Big Horn Coop”
in on one of them. As I
got close to it, it started
flapping its wings, and
it was honestly pretty
intimidating. I said.
‘He looks good! I don’t
think I need to get any
closer!’ But of course I
did.”
Whether they are furry
or feathered, Hanson
remains dedicated to all
her patients. Her love
for them is what keeps
her going through rain
and snow and nighttime
appointments.
“There’s something
special about seeing a
dog wag his tail every
We salute Johnson County Ag producers
time he walks through
the door because he’s
excited to see you,”

#1 in Sales 294 N. Main Street

Hanson said. “It’s also
special to see that first
cow I did a C-section
on come through the
Buffalo, Wyoming
chute each fall. Just
knowing that my
patients are healthy
and happy makes it all
and Listings 307-684-9531
C8 - Buffalo Bulletin - Thursday, March 23, 2017 www.buffalobulletin.com

Where would you be

without agriculture?

Naked and
hungry

The Buffalo BulleTin

salutes Johnson County agriculture
58 North Lobban • Buffalo, WY 82834 • 307-684-2223 • www.buffalobulletin.com
www.buffalobulletin.com Buffalo Bulletin - Thursday, March 22, 2018 - C9

Beef forage content

Blaine Horn conception rates, it will more than pay for itself in
the long run.
Sustainable Management of Following is a synopsis of mineral analysis
results of rangeland forage (grasses, sedges, and
Rangeland Resources Educator rushes) from pastures 17 miles east-northeast
Over the past few years, a number of articles of Buffalo and 25 miles southwest of Kaycee
in the popular agriculture press have focused on sampled between July 2015 and July 2017.
the mineral needs of beef cattle. The knowledge Because the diet of cattle consists primarily of
on their need is nothing new, but more effort is these types of plants, the results are compared
being made to remind ranchers that this part of with their needs. The amount of phosphorus in
their nutrition management program should not be the forage was generally adequate for a lactating
ignored. This would also be true for wool growers. beef cow in May and June, but after July it did
Many ranchers will provide their livestock an not meet the needs of a dry cow and levels were
off-the-shelf mineral supplement, believing that very low from late October and until green-up in
it is sufficient. In some cases, it might be, but early May. Calcium content, on the other hand,
ranchers would be well advised to assess whether was sufficient throughout the year for all stages
the mineral supplement they are using is really of production but at times was over seven times
meeting the needs of their livestock. that of phosphorus, creating an imbalance. There
Determining the mineral needs of beef cows or was plenty of potassium in the forage between
even sheep ewes is not difficult because a great April and August, but it was not sufficient all
deal of research has been done in assessing other months for a dry cow, let alone one nursing
what they are, and the information is readily a calf. Magnesium content of the forage was
available on the internet. Ranchers who do not never sufficient for either a lactating or a dry cow,
have internet service can contact their local and the content was lowest in dormant plants.
University of Wyoming Extension Office to The amount of sulfur in the forage was generally
obtain the information. adequate for a beef cow during the growing
Although obtaining knowledge about the season, but not otherwise. The iron content of the
mineral needs of their cattle or sheep is not forage was always sufficient to meet the needs of
difficult, determining the mineral content of their beef cows, but it often was greater than 250 ppm,
rangeland forage is another matter. There are no which could have a negative impact on copper
reliable book values for the nutrient content of absorption. This is critical because the amount of
rangeland forage as there is for harvested forages copper in the grasses and grass-like plants was
and grains. If ranchers want an idea as to what the always less than the required amount for cows,
mineral content of their range forage is, they have as was zinc. Both copper and zinc deficiencies
to take grab samples of it and send to a forage can have a negative impact on conception rates.
quality lab for analysis. This is not necessarily The amount of manganese in the rangeland
hard, but what plants the livestock are eating forage was generally sufficient for beef cattle in
needs to be known and sampling must occur at all stages of production.
least quarterly through the year and over a two- Based on the results of this ongoing project,
to-three-year period to obtain a good estimate mineral supplementation of cattle and sheep
of the mineral content and how it changes with should not be a one-size-fits-all endeavor. A
the seasons. This can be a bit expensive because custom-made mineral supplement mix may pay
mineral analysis of forages will cost $23 or more dividends, but if this is not feasible, ranchers
per sample, depending on the lab. However, if should at least try to match up a packaged
this leads to a mineral supplementation program mineral product that most closely meets the
that meets the animals’ needs and results in higher needs of their livestock.

Keep your pasture healthy

Blaine Horn much plant litter there is on the soil surface. Plant
litter is dead stems and leaves that have been
Sustainable Management of knocked down by animals and/or weather (snow
in particular). By being in contact with the soil
Rangeland Resources Educator
Spring is close at hand and if you have an acre-
surface the plant material will be decomposed by
soil microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, etc.) releas- At North Wyoming Insurance
ing minerals from the plant material into the soil
age that you graze horses on, it would be a good
time to plan on how you will manage your pasture improving its quality, i.e. a natural fertilization
process. Healthy rangeland pastures will have
We take the hands on approach
for the upcoming growing season. To develop a
good plan, it would be helpful to assess what the plant litter covering the soil surface between Let us personalize your
334 N. Main • Buffalo, WY
health of your land is so that you can maintain it if plants and there is little to no visible soil, espe- insurance plan to protect your future. 307.684.2535
cially on the productive sites. Another benefit
it is good or improve it if need be. Healthy range-
of plant litter is the slowing of the flow of water Call Jake or Trevor. www.northwyominginsurance.com
land pastures will provide your horses or other
livestock with more forage of higher quality than over the ground from intense rain storms and
those lands of poor health. snow melt when the ground is not frozen. This
If your acreage is that of native rangeland, results in more water infiltrating into the soil due
what should you be looking for to assess if it is to the plant litter forming small dikes damming
healthy? An important indicator is how diverse the water. More soil moisture means greater plant
the native plant community is. You want a good production and more forage for your animals. In
variety of native grasses, forbs, and even some addition, with an adequate amount of plant litter
shrubs and little to no introduced species, such as on the soil surface year in and out, there should
cheatgrass. The texture (sand, silt, and clay con- be little to no development of rills and terraces,
tent) of your pasture’s soil as well as its depth will that is, small ditches where the soil was washed
influence what plants will be present, which ones from and where it was piled.
will be dominant, and how productive they will If your pastures have good native plant diver-
be. Besides plant diversity, plant density is also a sity, little to no invasive and noxious weeds, are
gauge on how healthy a pasture is. Again, soil tex- productive, have good plant litter cover on the
ture along with depth will effect this but also the soil surface, and no visible signs of soil erosion
pasture’s terrain. then they are probably healthy and you should
Deep soils of a loamy texture are the most pro- continue with your current grazing manage-
ductive and should have plants that are growing ment plan. However, if this is not the case,
fairly close together. These soils will generally you should seriously consider making some
be found on level to slightly rolling topography. changes in your plan or develop one. What your
Whereas, hilly areas will often have coarser, shal- plan should include is when and for how long
lower soils on the side slopes and even on the a pasture will be grazed, how long it will be
summit. In addition, the south-facing aspects of rested from grazing, and at what level it will be
the hills dry out sooner than the north sides. As a stocked. Stocking level and growing conditions
result there are bigger gaps between plants com- will influence length of the grazing period. You
pared to the more level areas and growth of the do not want the plants to be grazed more than
plants can often be less. The type and species of once without a period of rest. In addition, you
plants that grow on side slopes and hill tops can be want a sufficient amount of plant leaves left
different from those that grow within draws and following grazing to ensure that the plants have
level areas. For example, bluebunch wheatgrass the ability to replenish their roots and develop
is often found on hill slopes but not within the buds that will be next year’s growth. As a rule
level areas. If gaps between plants are greater than of thumb, this would mean allowing the grazing
what they should be for the ecological sites of the animals to remove no more than half the stand-
pasture and growth appears limited even when ing material of individual plants. Any plan that
moisture has been good, health of the pasture has is developed needs to be flexible as set rotation
probably been compromised. This most likely dates are not advisable as it could lead to over-
was caused by the plants being stressed through or under-utilization.
frequent and probably severe defoliations as what If you need help in assessing the health of
generally occurs under continuous grazing, espe- your pastures or in developing a grazing plan,
cially if the stocking rate is too high. contact your local University of Wyoming
Another indicator of pasture health is how Extension office.
C10 - Buffalo Bulletin - Thursday, March 22, 2018 www.buffalobulletin.com

Advertise with the Buffalo Bulletin,

call Ashley or Kassie today!

307.684.2223

Bulletin photo by Jen Sieve-Hicks

Kade (above) and his brother Kale Benton
have turned their 4-H lamb projects into a
business – they have grown their flock and
now sell lambs to other 4-H’ers.

The
promise
of
new
life
By Jen Sieve-Hicks
jen@buffalobulletin.com

There is nothing quite as heady as being on

a ranch in the springtime – anything seems pos-
sible. The earth, after a long slumber, slowly
comes back to life. Lambs and calves arrive,
signaling new life and new opportunity.
At KNK Livestock, just east of Buffalo, that
optimism is palpable as two young entrepre-
neurs usher in new life and a new business.
Kade and Kale Benton didn’t necessarily
start out to be sheep men or to launch their own
businesses – it just kind of made sense.
It all started when Kale, now an eighth-grad-
er, decided to show lambs for 4-H. His parents
didn’t grow up with sheep, so they sought a lot
of advice from their neighbors, the Rives.
“We call them a lot,” Kale said. “You have
continued on page C11

“We help each

Heartland Kubota LLC other with it. If
2450 Heartland Dr.
Sheridan, WY 82801 • 307-672-8011 there’s a problem
with the sheep or
heifers, we help
each other.”
— Kade Benton
www.buffalobulletin.com Buffalo Bulletin - Thursday, March 22, 2018 - C11

Johnson County ag producers

We salute YOU!

895 Fort Street • Buffalo • 307-684-2518

Locally owned and operated for over 33 years!

Keeping
Bulletin photo by Jen Sieve-Hicks
Kale (left) and Kade Benton show 4-H lambs and beef. Last year the duo started breeding and lambing their own

Johnson
lambs – something the brothers agree is more work than getting a steer ready for the fair.

County
Agriculture
to learn how to take care of them and take care of them a lot.”
Then Kade, a fifth-grader, got in on the action too.

movin!
Each spring the two bought their show lambs from the Rives, and
then those lambs would be sold. But they knew they were on to some-
thing. The lambs, Suffolk-Hampshire crosses, were winning awards
– lots of awards – at prospect shows all over Wyoming, at the Johnson
County Fair and the state fair. NAPA Auto Parts
“These guys were blessed to start out with proven ewes, so they salutes
started with really good genetics,” Jackie, their mom, said. Johnson County
Last year, the duo decided it was time to go into business for them-
selves. With the help of their parents, Jackie and Tyler, they were able Agriculture.
to hold back some of their lambs and purchase some additional ewes.
“We want Now they’ve got nine ewes, 15 lambs, three more lambs on the way, a
50 percent share of a ram and a lambing barn.
Mountain Auto Supply
P.O. Box 849 • 955 N. Main
They will raise the lambs until mid- to late April, when they will sell
to have our them to other 4-H’ers for their lamb projects.
“We will keep some to show, and we’re also going to sell some,”
Buffalo, WY 82834
307-684-5561 • 800-324-5561
Kale said.
own lambs It’s a sound business model, but the lambs aren’t cash cows.
Compared with the boys’ 4-H steers and heifers, the two have found

that we can
that lambing is a lot of work.
“We have the sheep all year long. The steers you don’t have all year
long,” Kale said.

show by
“And the heifers raise more money sometimes,” said Kade, referenc-
ing their 4-H beef projects.
Tyler and Jackie handled the night lambing on school nights, but on

ourselves.
weekends, the boys took turns walking out to the barn in the middle
of the night to make sure no ewe was having trouble delivering and, if
there were new lambs, to get them dried off and under heat lamps.

I’m saving “We help each other with it,” said Kade. “If there’s a problem with
the sheep or heifers, we help each other.”
When each lamb will sell for hundreds of dollars, it’s an investment

money for that deserves careful treatment.

In addition to caring for the animals, the boys have learned about
managing their own business. There are feed bills to pay, and some of

college, too.” the money has to go back into the business.

The two aren’t sure what the future holds, but they’re pretty sure it
involves livestock.

— Kale “We want to have our own lambs that we can show by ourselves,”
Kale said. “I’m saving money for college, too.”

Benton

Prescription Shop
proudly supports Johnson County agriculture

Bulletin photo by Jen Sieve-Hicks

Kale Benton shows both beef and lambs for 4-H, but it’s the
lambs that he really enjoys working with.
431 Fort St. • Buffalo • 684-7003

Refill your prescriptions online: www.buffaloprescriptionshop.com

C12 - Buffalo Bulletin - Thursday, March 22, 2018 www.buffalobulletin.com

Access Yes
Game and Fish’s program provides over
2.5 million acres for hunting, angling
By the Wyoming Game and Fish Department anglers and the Game and Fish. A big thank
you goes out to landowners for their part-
The Wyoming Game and Fish nership to make these access opportunities
Department’s Access Yes program provided possible. We also extend thanks to hunters
over 2.66 million acres of access to lands for and anglers for donating to Access Yes when
hunting and fishing in 2017, according to the buying a license and to our partners for their
most recent Game and Fish report. continued donations to support the program.”
Access Yes enhances and maintains public Satisfaction with the program continues to
hunting and fishing access onto Wyoming’s remain steady, and in some cases increased.
private and landlocked public lands through Of hunters surveyed, 83 percent of antelope,
enrolling private landowners into one of 77 percent of deer and 74 percent of elk said
Game and Fish’s access programs: Hunter they were either “very satisfied” or “satis-
Management Areas (HMA), Walk-in Hunting fied” with the opportunities provided through
Areas (WIHA) and/or Walk-in Fishing Areas either the WIHA or HMA.
(WIFA). In 2017, every dollar spent provided
The 2017 report notes Game and Fish was approximately 3.1 acres of access. Access
able to provide: Yes is funded by Game and Fish and the
• Access to 2.6 million acres (1.6 million Access Yes Program funds. Game and Fish
acres of enrolled private, state and 978,110 of funds, primarily from license sales, fund
public lands) for hunting within the bound- the daily operations including personnel.
aries of the WIHA and HMA programs. Revenue for Access Yes is generated from
This included land in every county within the sale of lifetime and annual conservation
Wyoming. stamps, donations from organizations, indi-
• Additional access to 175,755 acres of vidual hunters and anglers, court-imposed
public lands located outside the boundaries restitution fees from individuals convicted
of the WIHA and HMA, which would not of wildlife violations, and interest. These
have been accessible without the Access Yes sources generated $913,366 for the program
program. last year. Easement payments made to land-
• Providing fishing access to 3,845 lake owners are funded through Access Yes, to the
acres and 88 stream miles through the WIFA amount of $904,884 for hunting and fishing
program. access.
“Each year we partner with landowners to The full report is available for the pub-
increase quality hunting and fishing access to lic on the Game and Fish website. To learn
privately owned lands and landlocked pub- more about Access Yes lands accessible for
lic lands,” said Scott Edberg, deputy chief hunting and fishing, visit the Game and Fish
of the Game and Fish’s Wildlife Division. Public Access page. Sportspeople can donate
“The Access Yes program is important for to Access Yes when buying and applying for
Bulletin courtesy photo effectively managing wildlife populations, their 2018 licenses to continue to support
Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Access Yes program allows hunters to access millions mitigating agricultural damage and building more places to hunt and fish in Wyoming.
of acres of private land for hunting and fishing. relationships between landowners, hunters,

Thank you ag producers

Posy Patch
104 Angus, Buffalo, WY.
307-684-2523 or 307-684-2983
posypatch.net

Johnson
County
agriculture
producers...
Thank you Bulletin courtesy photo

for all you do! The Wyoming Department of Agriculture offers help for ranching families when its time to transfer their
farm or ranch to the next generation.

Estate planning and the

33 North Main • Buffalo
684-2215
role of mediation
By Lucy Pauley come together to have a conversation about
Mediation coordinator, Wyoming Department of Agriculture the future of the plan, provided information
on succession and management planning,
As each year passes, the average age of
and more.
farmers and ranchers across the country
The Mediation Program is available to
continues to climb.
help farm and ranch families have a discus-
According to the last Census of
sion about estate planning, work through
Agriculture in 2012, the average age of
miscommunication or tough personali-
principal operator has risen from 50.5 to
58.3 over a 30-year period. As our farm- ties that are affecting the estate planning
ers and ranchers across the country age, process, and help a family talk about the
agricultural family estate planning becomes future of the ag operation. Mediators use
more and more important. While it is an techniques to open up communication and
important topic for today’s agricultural give everyone an opportunity to share ideas,
producers, figuring out how to transfer the discuss obstacles and brainstorm solutions.
farm or ranch to the next generation is not Working in tandem with attorneys, accoun-
We have the parts to keep you going in the field always easy.
These conversations between fami-
tants or other estate planning professionals,
mediators can help families discuss vari-
ous options and develop an agreement that
Thank you Johnson County Ag producers lies can be difficult and emotions can run
high. Because of this, many use the WDA works for everyone.
Mediation Program to help navigate these For more information on using media-
difficult situations. The Mediation program tion to help with an estate planning or
Michelena Automotive Supply has helped producers who were looking for management transition discussion, contact
70 E. Benteen St. • Buffalo, WY • 307-684-2237 • 866-684-2237 resources on the nuts and bolts of estate the Wyoming Department of Agriculture at
planning, helped get family members to 777-8788 or email lucy.pauley@wyo.gov.
Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. • Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
www.buffalobulletin.com Buffalo Bulletin - Thursday, March 22, 2018 - C13

Lawrence continued from page C3

HydraBed that hoists the bales up and onto the truck bed.
“I grew up helping – growing up, kids get to help and you
learn the basics. You get to help on the big days like branding
and shipping,” she says. “But day to day is very different. It’s
been a neat experience to adjust to that. I really enjoy being
outside, so this is so much more conducive to that. Some days
are long and hard and hot, and other days you’re begging for
zero (degrees). Some days there aren’t enough long johns to
keep me warm, but I prefer the outdoors, so this has been a
really great adjustment.”
Today is one of those days when there just aren’t enough
clothes to keep warm.
She steps out of the truck, hay knife in hand, and cuts the
netting off the bale. The hoarfrost is thick on the trees and
grass and steam rises from the cows’ mouths as they wait for
Lawrence to spread the hay.
“I knew to get worried last year when all the old ranchers
were saying, ‘Now this is a real winter.’ This winter, we kind
of divide and conquer,” she says. “Last winter you couldn’t go
anywhere by yourself because you were going to get stuck. I
spent so much time digging out trucks last year from the snow.
I kept telling my dad it was a good thing that wasn’t my first
winter home otherwise I would have bought a one-way plane
ticket back to the beach. There is no way I would have stuck
that out if it was my first winter.”
With two hay bales spread, she heads to the creek to chop
ice and ensure a water source for the cows. Lola yaps excit-
edly – she’d like to herd some cows, but she’s supposed to be
laying down near the creek bed.
“I never understood the relationship between a person and
their dog because I’d never had my own dog,” Lawrence says.
“But she goes with me everywhere, all day, and I get it now.”
There are other things that Lawrence has come to appreci-
ate through returning to the ranch.
“It’s such a unique experience to grow up on a ranch – we
don’t realize that here because half of the people you went to
school with grew up on a ranch and the other half were out at Bulletin photo by Jen Sieve-Hicks
your ranch, so they are familiar with it,” she says. “But out- Wherever Tressa Lawrence goes, so does Lola. The border collie is the first dog that has belonged
side our little pocket of the universe, not a lot of people under- solely to Lawrence, and it has given her a new appreciation and understanding for the special bond
stand that.” between a person and her dog.
Lawrence is acutely aware that her day-to-day job is not
something that many of her college friends can understand.
“Especially my friends from college in Lubbock (Texas),
it just blows their minds,” she says. “They absolutely cannot
wrap their head around the amount of cattle and the amount of
land that goes into a Wyoming ranch. They’re like, ‘Do you
really work seven days a week, year round?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah,
Serving the propane needs of
unless I can ask someone to feed for me.’”
It’s not a typical nine-to-five, but the work is important
Johnson County Agriculture producers
– essential even, and Lawrence’s conviction runs deep. She
knows there are misconceptions out there about agriculture, - FARM - RANCH - RESIDENTIAL - COMMERCIAL - OIL FIELD
and she knows she can be an advocate for agriculture in both
word and deed.
“I call it fear-mongering marketing. It’s a just a constant
battle to promote that we do grow this safe and nutritious food
source for a growing population and that we care for our live-
stock,” she says.
“One of my friends from college says that it’s our jobs as
stewards of the land and God’s creatures to ensure that they live a
comfortable, safe, happy life from birth to the end. We’re here to
make sure they’re well taken care of and that through that we can
take care of future generations. I love the legacy of agriculture.”

TriCounTy Gas
Ranch Real Estate Financing
234 TW Road, Buffalo, WY 82834 • 307-684-7411 • Fax: 307-684-2337

Offering a customized solution for

“You’ve mixed some sweat in it, took some
all of your real estate financing needs. shovels to it, you know you came from it and
one day you will return to it.”
VARIABLE RATE LOANS
If interest rates move or your operation changes, Ranching is as vital to our heritage as it is to our future!
you have the option of converting your loan It is the roots of our community. We salute area
terms without a costly and time-consuming producers for their contributions to our Western way
refinance process. of life and our local economy.
REVOLVING LINE OF CREDIT
Borrow funds for land purchases or
other business needs with five or ten-year
draw periods.

UP TO 30-YEAR FIXED RATE LOANS

Multiple options to manage your interest
rate risk on fixed-rate loans ranging from
10–30 years.

BUFFALO SHERIDAN GILLETTE

(307) 684-2211 (307) 673-7777 (307) 685-3375 Bloedorn Lumber
711 N. Main Street • Buffalo, WY 82834
FNBOFWYO.COM 307-684-7761
C14 - Buffalo Bulletin - Thursday, March 22, 2018 www.buffalobulletin.com

We can handle all of your

farming and
ranch construction needs
• Stock water, residential
and irrigation pipeline construction
• Trucking • Dirt Construction
• Farming • Reclamation

Carlat Construction
carlatconstruction@yahoo.com
606 TW Road
Carlat
Construction Buffalo, Wyoming 82834
307-217-1807 ~ Locally owned and operated Bulletin courtesy photo
Grown in Wyoming is a newly launched program by the Wyoming Business Council. The goal is to help Wyoming farmers and
~ Licensed, bonded and insured ranchers expand their reach and provide more local food options for consumers.
~ In business for over 10 years

Cross H Gravel Pit

Just grow it
By Tom Dixon for consumers.
Senior communications specialist, Grown in Wyoming promotes
Wyoming Business Council
(3 miles SE of Buffalo on old HWY 87) all types of agriculture, food
and fiber raised and produced in
• Full service gravel pit • 10 aggregate products available The Wyoming Business
the state. The program connects
Council has officially launched
• Delivery and construction services
Business Council launches
farmers and ranchers with whole-
Grown in Wyoming, a program
sale and retail consumers.
Office 217-1807 • Pit 217-3510 designed to open new markets
Members have full use of the
Pit hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday mornings
Grown in Wyoming Program for Wyoming farmers and ranch-
ers and expand local food options program’s logo and promotional
material and prominent display
on a map featuring the location
of local growers and ranchers and
outlets selling local products.
Retailers and restaurants look-
ing for locally sourced foods and
fibers are encouraged to market
themselves to producers through
the Grown in Wyoming program.
“People want to know where
their food is coming from. Ag
is a valuable part of Wyoming’s
economy, and it’s an industry
that can be responsive to national

SHERIDANMOTOR.COM
trends like sustainably sourced
food,” said Briana Tanaka, agri-
culture and international trade
coordinator for the Business
Council. “With the education
and awareness raised by this

ONLINE. ALL THE TIME.

program, we expect to generate
more demand for Wyoming-
grown products.”
The demand for locally grown
produce, meats and fibers is
accelerating.
“This program will help dif-
ferentiate, identify and promote
foods and fibers predominantly
grown in Wyoming,” Tanaka
said. “Ultimately, the program
will help our local food com-
panies market their products
and help our consumers choose
Wyoming when they eat.”
Members receive market
exposure through consulting, pro-
motion and brand campaigns in
addition to being featured in pro-
files and stories on the website,
on social media and in materials
directed toward grocery stores,
restaurants and consumers.
Anyone interested in the
program is encouraged to alert

We salute the ranchers food and fiber companies to this

opportunity; visit the website at
www.growninwyoming.org and

and ag producers of Johnson County!

follow Grown in Wyoming social
media pages on Facebook and
Instagram.
For more information, call
Tanaka at 307-777-6430 or email
her at briana.tanaka@wyo.gov.

“Ultimately, the
program will
help our local
food companies
market their
products and
We will match or beat any price anywhere. help our
consumers
choose Wyoming
when they eat.”

1858 Coffen Ave — Briana

Tanaka, trade
coordinator for

307.672.3411 • CALL US TODAY

the Business
Council